Weekly Wrap-up

Books Read:

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
• The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
• A New York Christmas by Anne Perry
• The Angel Court Affair by Anne Perry
• A Christmas Message by Anne Perry

Reading:

• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Books To Be Read:

• Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
• A Christmas Return by Anne Perry

With the exception of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, it seems my December reading is centered on Dickens and Perry.  For some reason I associate Christmas with Victorian England.

I have chosen to read Copperfield in the original installments from Dickens' magazine.  It will take me until December 24.  In the meantime, I will include other holiday fare.

I hope to post some reviews or reactions to these works.  I owe a decent review of The Old Curiosity Shop.  That is what I am working on now.  I will post it upon its completion.  

#TBT

It's Thursday and time to look back.  As the year draws to a close, I have been looking at what I have read in 2017 and trying to find a favorite (or two).  

In 2017 I discovered Fredrik Backman.  I don't know much about him except that he is Swedish, a blogger, a columnist, and now a novelist.  For this, I am most grateful.  

A trusted reading friend recommended A Man Called Ove by Backman.  I picked it up several times on my trips through Barnes and Noble and always ended up laying it aside.  When my friend took me on my birthday jaunt to the bookstore, she picked it up and added to the haul her gift card provided.

From Booklist:

At 59, Ove is a grumble Gus of the first degree. Rules are made to be followed, signs are meant to be obeyed, and don’t even get him started about computers and mobile phones. In truth, Ove has been this way his whole life, but he’s gotten worse in the last four years since his wife, Sonia, died, taking with her all the color in a world Ove sees as black-and-white. Ove has decided life without Sonia is not worth living and plans to join her in the next world. But a young couple and their two children (a third is on the way) move in next door, his oldest friend and most feared enemy is about to be forcibly removed to a nursing home, and a street-scarred cat insinuates itself into his life. Suddenly, Ove’s suicide plans get delayed as he helps solve neighborly crises large and small. Though Ove’s dark mission mitigates any treacly upstaging by animals and small children, readers seeking feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this solitary old man with a singular outlook. . --Carol Haggas

I sat on my balcony with a cup of coffee and the book.  There had been several occasions that caused me to laugh.  Neighbors walking by with their dogs looked up, smiled, and waved.  But by the time they were on the way back home, I was sobbing. (quite loudly).  I called my friend and could barely catch my breath as I begged her to tell me it would end happily ever after.   I had a good deal left to read.  She hung up chuckling.  I will only say "I love that book."  I love Ove.  I want to live in his neighborhood.  I want to share his friends.  I love that book.

I vowed to read all Backman's books.  They are now downloaded on my kindle.  Yesterday as I browsed the "Books Recommended for You" section, I found "The Deal of a Lifetime."  Wow!  A Christmas book.  A mere 96 pages, this is the story of a man who has sacrificed his family for money and success.  Now, he has a chance to make it right, but it is a drastic plan.  The story moves from present to past and back.  This is not a religious Christmas story, nor is it a pop culture look at the holiday, but readers will walk away with a feeling of redemption and the true meaning of love.

Have I told you how much I love Fredrik Backman?

Shock Wave

From the back cover...

Tasman Sea, 1856.  A British clipper ship bound for Australia's penal colony is crushed in a raging typhoon.  A few pitiful survivors wash up on a deserted island.  Among these are Betsy Fletcher and Jess Dorsett, who discover an immense supply of exquisite diamonds..

Seymour Island, Antarctica 2000.  Dirk Pitt rescues Maeve Fletcher, a descendant of Betsy and Jess, after an unknown cataclysm kills thousands of marine animals plus nearly two hindered people aboard a cruise ship.  Pitt traces the carnage to the global diamond operations of Maeve's father Arthur Dorsett, and her callous sisters.

Dirk Pitt is a member of the NUMA crew a government sponsored team to study marine life.  Perhaps he can be described as a kind of American James Bond or Indiana Jones.  This entry in the Pitt series is a thriller than moves from Antarctica to Canada to DC.  He must fight a ruthless diamond hunter as well as dangerous environmental threats.
I've only read a few Cussler thrillers but so far they are exciting satisfying adventures, so I see no reason not to continue.  I haven't read them in order and don't feel I have missed anything which is unusual for me because I prefer to go in order.

Friday Books

Rose City Reader  says "Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name."

She goes on to include the Friday 56 from Freda's Voice.  "The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice is a natural tie in with this event and there is a lot of cross over, so many people combine the two. The idea is to post a teaser from page 56 of the book you are reading and share a link to your post. Find details and the Linky for your Friday 56 post on Freda’s Voice."

My read:  

"Night is generally my time for walking.  In the summer I often leave home early in the morning, and roam about fields and lanes all day, or even escape for days or weeks together;but, saving in the country, I seldom go out until after dark, though, Heaven be thanked, I love its light and feel the cheerfulness it sheds upon the earth, as much as any living creature.  (1)

"Some people by prudent management and leaving it off piece by piece like a flannel waistcoat in warm weather, even contrive, in time, to dispense with it altogether; but there be others who can assume the garment and throw it off at pleasure; and this, being the greatest and most convenient improvement, is the one most in vogue."  (56)

From The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens.  This novel was published in book format in 1841.  Prior to that it was released in serial form.  Dickens knew how to play an audience!  I was drawn to this novel when I came across a quote by Oscar Wilde 'One would have to have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without dissolving into tears...of laughter.'  That sucked me in.  Is this going to be the height of Victorian melodrama?  I can't wait to see.

The Month in Review - November

The weather is colder (well maybe cooler is better for us in Virginia) and I am snuggling in to read.  There is nothing on television with the exception of the Dancing With the Stars Finals and an occasional football game.  We have spent our evenings heads in books.

My month was highly productive both in quantity and quality.  There were no "losers" and several "winners."  Without question my two favorites were by Truman Capote.  He has a gift for words and his memories are heart tugging.  I feel as if I know the people in his stories because they fit so perfectly with the people in To Kill a Mockingbird.  He is Dill, you know.

I would recommend any one of the titles below and I think December will be just as satisfying.

The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille  ****

Outlander by Diana Gabalon ***

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie ****

Armageddon File by Stephen Coonts ****

Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens *****

Red Bones by Ann Cleeves ****

Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell ****

Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler ***

Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler ***

Iceberg by Clive Cussler ***

Memory Man by David Baldacci ****

The Last Mile by David Baldacci ****

The Fix by David Baldacci ****

The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote *****

A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry  ****

A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry ****

A Christmas Escape by Anne Perry ****

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote *****

Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child ****

Hardcore Twenty Four by Janet Evanovich ****

Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves ****

A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry ***

Wordless Wednesday

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge

It is time for the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge.  I've listed the categories on the sidebar.  It's an impressive set of criteria.  Are you up for the dare?  I am going to give it my best shot.

There are 50 suggested topics and that can be pretty scary but as they have said over at PopSugar, the point is to read and broaden our horizons.  50 books includes the advanced section so if that is not doable go for the basic list of 40.

What comes after the reading?  Here is what they suggest at PopSugar.

"So you've decided to take the reading challenge — what now? We'd suggest joining this Goodreads group, which is made up of more than 8,000 readers who participate in the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge every year. In addition to keeping you accountable, the group's impressively well-read and supportive members swap book ideas for the prompts and discuss their favorite (and least favorite) reads throughout the year. You'll also be able to track which books you've read and rate them on the site."